Trap



May 8, 19238. 1,668,937

4 A. J. BROWN TRAP Filed NOV. 29, 1926 A TTORNEYS.

Patented kMuay 8, 1928.

LARL'EN `J. BROWN,` 0F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

. maar.

Applicationled November 29,1926. `Serial No.,15i,332.

' In the catching of many animals, such for instance as muskrats, the ordinary box traps are not satisfactony for seyeral'reasons, one, that they cannotbe usually properly placed with relation to 'the runs. It is also desirablawith such trapsthat theybe buoyant eiiouglrto' bek lplaced on the'water. It is desired vto catch the animals without injury so 'that ample space for the box to operateisdesirable andi'orthis reason also a comparatively lightbox is desirable. Features and ldetails of the invention will appear 'fromthe specilication and'claims.

Thefinvention is illustrated v'in the accompanying drawingsasfollows F ig. l shows a plan View, partly 'broken away. y A j `Figf2 a section onjthe line 2 2 1n Fig'. l.

l marks Ythe base which is of` buoyant material, as wood, and 2 the Vbox which is preferably of lightwire mesh mounted on a wire ring 3. At one edge of the box hinged straps l extend around the ring and form a hinge on which the box may be swung to elevated position. The ends of the ring are projected rearwardly forming a tri 'ger projection 5. v

trigger latch 6 is pivotally mounted on` the base by means of a staple 7. A trigger 8 has the rear end bent downwardly at 9 and is pivotally secured to the base by staples 10. A bait plate l1 is formed on the trigger.

The downward bend 9 has a small opening 9a. With the box elevated the latch 6 may be carried over the trigger projections 5 and the trigger lifted so that the latch extends into the opening V9a. The weight of the box holds the bait pan in its upper position. Vifhen the pan is depressed this releases the latch anddrops the box.

Inasmuch as the top is comparatively light it is desirable to lock the box after it is dropped and this is accomplished by the lock l2. This is larranged ina slot 13 in the base and pivotally securedto the base by a staple 14. vIt has a hook l5 which engages the ring 3 when it drops to lower position and has a. forward projection 16v which forms a weight drawing the lock linto engaging position.

It is desirable to accelerate the closing of the box and this is accomplished by a` spring 17 which is coiled around the hinged edge of the ring, one end of the spring being anchored at 18 on v,the base andtheopposite vend lf) on the side reach of the ring.

What I, claim as new is i l. In a trap,y the combination of a 'basegv a `,box hinged at one yedge en. the base; a

trigger projection on the `hinged ,edge olf4 the box; and a trigger operatingon the projection for holding the box in openposition when set and releasing the sameon the operationot thejtrigger.V v

2.11 `a trap the combination o'fa base; a box hinged' atene edge oi!` the`base,saidfbox beingformed oi wire mesh with a surround# ing 7ring at its lower edge,y said ring having a triggery projection anda trigger operating on the projection for holdingthe box -in open position and releasing fthe ksame to permit Ythe closing of the box when the trigger is operated. 3.111 atrap, the combination of a base; a box hinged at one edgeof vthe base7 ysaid box being formed of lwire'mesh andl ring along its bottom edge7 the adjoining ends of the ring extending rearwardly forming trigger projections; and a trigger operating on the projections for holding the box in open position when set and permitting the box to close when the trigger is operated. 4l. In a trap, the combination of a base; a box arranged at one edge of the'base; a trigger projection on the hinged edge of the box; a trigger operating on the projection and holding thebox in open position when set and releasing the same on the operation of the trigger; and a spring on the hinged edge accelerating the closing of the box.

5. In a trap, thecombination of a base;

trapped may be supportedby the buoyancy of the base and caught uninjnred.

6.xIn atrap7 the combination of a base; a box hinged on the base, ksaid box Vbeing formed of wire mesh with a surrounding ring at its edge, said ring having a trigger projection at the hinged edge; and a trigger engaging the projection and holding the box in set `position to permit the box to close when operated,V said base being of suliicient buoyancy to iioat the trap with the upper surface of the base above Water.

7. En a trap, the combination of a base; a box hinged on the base; a trigger mechanism for holding the box in'open position and permitting the box to close when operated, said base being of buoyant material andadapted to maintain the trap with the upper surface oit the base' above Water with the trap floating whereb \7 the animal trapped may be suppcrted by the `buoyancj7 of the base and caught uninjured; and a catch for locking the box in closed position.

8. A. device of the class described comprising a float adapted When placed in Water to support the weight of the device and a captured animal; a cage open at its underside only and hinged at one edge thereof on the float; spring means tending to swing down the cage; a. detent adapted to hold it in a raised position; and a trigger for releasing the detentlocated within the cage close to the hinged end but leaving sulicient room for the animal between the trigger and the opposite end ot the cage.

9. A device of the class described comprising a float adapted when placed in Water to support the Weight of the device and a captured animal; a rectangular traine hinged at one side on the float; an open bottomed cage secured to said frame; a projectionl of the aforesaid side of the frame extending outside the cage; a'detent hinged on the float outside the cage and adapted to extend inside the cage over said projection to hold the cage in a raised position; and a trigger hinged on the float adapted to be engaged b v the detent to hold the latter in its projection engaging position, the trigger being located Within the Acage close to the hinged end but leaving sufficient roomr vfor the animal between'the trigger and the opposite end oi the cage. y

l0. A device of the class described comprising a base; a rectangular frame hinged at one side on the base; 'an open bottomed cage secured to said frame; a projection the aforesaid side of the ,traine extending outside the cage; a detent lnnged'on the 'base outside the cage andv adapted to extend inf my hand.

ARLEN J. BROWN. 

